​Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 has 17 grounds for evicting a tenant –

• the first 8 are
  • Mandatory, -  the judge has no discretion and must grant eviction.
• Grounds 9 to 17 are
  • discretionary, - the judge will act as s /he sees fit and fair.
• Do not confuse this with a section 8 tenant - an American tenant in receipt of housing cost assistance.  This is not a UK concept.
• A Section 8 Notice to Quit will lapse (expire) 12 months after served on a tenant.
  • minimum notice periods are required prior to the end of the initial tenancy term depending on the ground .
  • Section 8 notice to quit are served using Form 3
• Grounds for eviction:
• 1-8 Mandatory;
  • 1  Owner principle former home returning
  • 2  HA’88 mortgagee default s.101 LPA 25
  • 3 Fixed term < 8 months AND former holiday let
  • 4 Term < 12 months etc.
    • Ground 4A Student eviction permissible if less than six months elapsed between signing tenancy and start of tenancy.
    • This new amended ground is a proposal of the Rents Rights Bill currently going through parliament in 2025
  • 5 Minister of religion e.g. manse required.
  • 6 Renovation works render uninhabitable
  • 7 Former tenant of Deceased
  • 8 Rent Arrears according to rent frequency
• 9-17 Discretionary:
  • 9 Suitable alternative accommodation available
  • 10 Some unpaid rent on date of service
  • 11 Persistent late rent
  • 12 Unperformed obligation or default tenancy
  • 13House deterioration
  • 14 Nuisance annoyance / immoral illegal conduct
  • 14Aa Tenant departure unlikely to return
  • 15 Furniture deterioration
  • 16 Employed tenant no longer employed
  • 17 Misleading statement inducing tenancy (HA 1996)